CAMP COUNTY - CROSS ROADS CEMETERY

On Saturday Dec. 8, 2007, Nancy Carol Marans, 77, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother departed this life. After a major stroke, she passed away at Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler with her family by her side.

Nan was born to Bennett David DeKaifetz and Alvina Rahak in Wewoka, Okla., Dec. 21, 1929 and was the youngest of five siblings. Upon graduating from San Marcos Baptist Academy she attended college at Texas Woman's University and North Texas State University. In the middle 50s, she and her sister, Earline Bigbie, began making evening gowns and started a manufacturing company by the name of Mike Benet Formals. During the early 60s, she sold her interest in the business to devote time to raising her family. In the late 70s, Nan moved to New York City and married the love of her life, Burt Marans. Nan and Burt resided in the New York area for a number of years and in the early 2000s moved back to Pittsburg.

She was a gifted individual in arts and gardening which she enjoyed doing on a daily basis. She will be best remembered as a person who was very generous when it came time for charity and distributing alms and very caring and generous toward her family and loved ones. She is survived by her husband Burt, three children, Bruce and Michael Carpenter and Candace Martin, six grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Pittsburg Gazette Dec 2007:

"Dear Editor:

Once in a rare moment in time a person, or in this case, a town is graced to know a real character of courage, foresight, conviction, and "roll up your sleeve and get it done" attitude. Pittsburg was graced by the presence of Nan Marans.

In her early years here, Nan saw the possibility of another evening dress company succeeding in this town, so she started the wheels rolling. She brought in her sister and brother-in-law, the Bigbies, and built the Mike Benet Evening Gown Company into world renowned status. At one time, we also had Cloyes Manufacturing company which also made evening dresses. I often heard people from out of state call Pittsburg, 'the evening dress capitol of America."

After Mike Benet bought out the Cloyes business, their size and influence grew. Jobs abounded for Pittsburg citizens. Nan Marans was behind all of this. Nan worked hard and she expected the same of you. This was true of all of her endeavors in life and all her dealings with people. Nan told it like it was. If you were a wuss, well, move aside. In other cases, what Nan said usually had credence and probably was of benefit to you. Most importantly, if she was your friend, she was your friend. You might not see each other for a month, but when you did see each other, it was just like only a day had passed.

The Nan Marans of this world don't come along often as friend to people and as friend to the well-being of a town. So long, Nan. You will be sorely missed."

MikeBenetFormals

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